Sword of the Highlander by Cynthia Breeding Read Free Book Online Page B

sounded like laughter. Putting his hand on her shoulder, Niall turned her over to look at him. “What happened?”
    “Aubrey,” she said in a strangled voice, “was in bed with Carlotta—”
    “I ne’er cared for the woman.” Niall wiped a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “‘Tis sorry I am that ye thought her a friend.”
    Cassidy hiccupped again. Niall stared at her. “Ye found them naked in bed together?”
    “Very nak…naked. Very together.” She cleared her throat. “It’s just too much. Here I thought I’d found a man who wanted to impress society with a very proper wife and marriage and…and he cheats on me with someone who’s supposed to be my friend.” Her voice rose in pitch. How could I have been so naïve?” The tears started again.
    “Come here, lass.” Niall drew her into his arms. “Ye are much better off without them.”
    She clung to him and he liked the way her body molded into his. They fit together perfectly. Her tears subsided as he held her, stroking her hair softly. Finally she looked up at him. “I’m okay now.”
    Her eyes were red-rimmed, but he saw no more pain in them. Slowly, giving her time to withdraw, he dipped his head and brushed her lips with his. For a brief second she hesitated and then she returned his kiss, her lips smooth and soft as satin.
    Niall kept the pressure easy, a gentle exploration of her mouth, nibbling at the corner, letting his tongue glide across the crevice. Cassidy made a soft, mewling sound deep in her throat and her lips parted as her hands lifted from his shoulders to his neck and her fingers raked through his hair, caressing him.
    He groaned, sliding one arm along her back to draw her closer while his other hand cradled her head. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth and tasted her. She mewled again as her tongue met his and he deepened the kiss, wanting it to last for eternity.
    “Ah, lass,” he murmured as he finally broke away and began raining butterfly kisses across her forehead and pert nose. He nibbled his way along her chin, the fingers of one hand gliding along the curve of her throat and along her collar bone to stop at the swell of her breast exposed above the neckline of the silky shift. “I want ye. For now and—”
    “Shhh.” Cassidy laid a finger across his lips, her green eyes dark as a forest. “For now, just make me feel like a woman. Make me yours.”
    He understood. The lass hadn’t only been betrayed, but in a way in which she couldn’t fight back. There would be time enough later to tell her he loved her. Right now, she needed the feel of a man who desired her as a woman…and only her.
    He made quick work of the row of buttons at the front of her nightrail. Parting the flimsy material he exposed her breasts and belly to his gaze. She made to cover herself, but he took her hands and held them down.
    “Nae, lass. Ye are beautiful and I very much want to look. Dinna deny me the pleasure.” She smiled then and her body relaxed. He stood, stripping his T-shirt over his head and then unzipping and peeling off his jeans. Her breath hitched as he straightened. “Do ye like what ye see, Cassidy O’mine?”
    Did she like what she saw ? Cassidy could only stare. The gods must have sent him straight from Mount Olympus. She’d seen him bare-chested in Macy’s, but now she had time to really look. Perfectly sculpted pecs stretched across the wide expanse of his chest to blend with the chiseled details of bulging biceps tapering into strong forearms. The ridges of his belly were granite hard, his thighs heavily muscled. But his… Cassidy’s mouth went suddenly dry.
    He captured her hands in one of his and lifted them over her head while he nuzzled his way down her neck. Her back arched in invitation, but he took his time, his lips brushing lightly over her, his breath making her tingle.
    Before she could catch her breath, she felt a slight nudge and then he filled her completely. Sparklets of light surrounded her